DA charges suspended lawyer Crawford in theft
The Clark County district attorney's office has filed a criminal complaint against suspended personal injury lawyer Douglas Crawford, accusing him of stealing more than $354,000 from several clients.
The complaint charges Crawford with four counts of felony theft between November 2005 and May 2007. He has been ordered to appear before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Eric Goodman on Dec. 30.
The thefts first surfaced in disciplinary proceedings before the Nevada State Bar, which temporarily suspended Crawford from practicing law in May 2007. The bar later recommended disbarring Crawford, but the Nevada Supreme Court instead suspended him in February 2009 for five years, saying his personal problems factored into its decision.
Crawford, 55, once a regular on KVBC-TV programs, told the State Bar during his disciplinary proceedings that he stole the money to support gambling, alcohol and drug addictions. The Supreme Court said he also suffered from depression.
"I did it because I completely lost touch with myself and with everything," Crawford said during the bar proceedings.
The Supreme Court ordered Crawford to continue to meet weekly with his psychiatrist and to attend regular gamblers anonymous meetings. The high court also ordered Crawford to make nearly $400,000 in restitution to his clients.
In an Oct. 4 interview with detectives, Crawford acknowledged that he was "horrible" and had "hurt people."
When detectives told Crawford "heart-wrenching" stories of financial harm caused by his actions, Crawford responded: "I deserve to be held accountable for what I did to those people, and I'll do whatever it takes to make this right."
Police said Crawford, now a paralegal for attorney Preston Rezaee, has yet to pay any restitution.
Rezaee declined comment; Crawford could not be reached for comment.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Brian Rutledge said that if convicted Crawford faces up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine on each of the four theft counts, plus restitution.
